California City Municipal Code Art. 2 Commencement of Service

(a) Improved property whose proposed discharge line would not be longer than one hundred (100) feet shall deposit sewage into the main through a lawful sewer connection. The sewer connection for property improved as of September 1, 2002, shall be made before September 1, 2003. The sewer connection for property improved before the future extension of the sewer main shall connect to the main within one year of the installation of the sewer main. Plan check fees are waived for new, improved property sewer connections.

(b) Unimproved lots whose proposed discharge line would not be longer than two hundred (200) feet shall deposit sewage in the main through a lawful sewer connection. The sewer connection shall be shown on a site or plot plan and approved by the City prior to the issuance of a permit to construct improvements on the lot.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Public Works Director may authorize a delay in the connection of property to the sewer main if the Director finds the delay will not jeopardize public health or the environment and the property owner enters into an agreement with the City to make the connection when requested by the Director. The Agreement shall include a promise by the property owner to vote for the formation of a financing district and an assessment or special tax to pay for the connection.

(Ord. No. 07-658, 12-18-2007)

(a) An applicant for sanitation service or for a change in the amount or type of such service shall make request on forms provided by the City, and pay required fees prior to obtaining a permit from the administrative authority.

(b) Applicants for sanitation service shall provide the following information on forms provided:

(1) Location of property from which sewage will flow;

(2) Owner of property;

(3) Strength of sewage to be discharged;

(4) Duration of discharge;

(5) Quantity of discharge;

(6) Type of user (residential, commercial or industrial);

(7) Nature of business if commercial or industrial; and

(8) Plumbing plans of the proposed facility, commercial or industrial.

(a) The Director of Public Works shall prepare a list showing the expected discharge classification for various types of uses. The Director of Public Works shall review applications for sanitation service and determine which class of discharge applies to the applicant.

(b) A non-residential discharger or applicant who contends the Director of Public Works' determination of Class does not accurately reflect the quantity or quality of water reaching the sewer may request the Director of Public Works to review the determination by presenting evidence to support such contention. The Director of Public Works may change the classification assigned to the discharger if the discharger can show that the sewage differs significantly and substantially from the sewage for the Class.

Applicants for sanitation service shall pay the fees set forth in this Article as a condition for obtaining sanitation service.

(a) An applicant for service to property fronting on but not connected to an existing collector or trunk sewer shall pay: (1) a pro rata share of the cost of the trunk sewer, if a main extension refund agreement exists with respect to such trunk sewer; (2) a connection fee; (3) miscellaneous fees, if any; and (4) make the deposits, as set forth below.

(b) Applicant shall pay for the design and construction of a sewer lateral along the proposed discharge line and the extension of the sewer collector or trunk with appurtenances from the existing approved point of connection to the far end of the entire frontage of the lot. The design shall be in accordance with standards approved by the City.

(c) An application to add sewage units to an existing lateral sewer connected to the trunk sewer directly or through a collector sewer shall pay: (1) a connection fee, (2) the miscellaneous fees, if any, and (3) make the deposits set forth below.

(Ord. No. 07-658, 12-18-2007)

(a) An applicant for service to property not fronting on an existing collector or trunk sewer shall pay: (1) connection fees; (2) miscellaneous fees, if any; and (3) make the deposits set forth below.

(b) Applicant shall pay for the design and construction of a sewer lateral along the proposed discharge line and the extension of the sewer collector or trunk with appurtenances from the existing approved point of connection to the far end of the entire frontage of the lot. The design shall be approved by the Public Works Director. Private disposal systems shall be permanently deactivated in accordance with the Uniform Plumbing Code when the property is connected to the community system.

(c) If the applicant pays for the cost of a trunk sewer extension to serve the applicant's property, the applicant may enter into a sewer extension refund agreement.

(Ord. No. 07-658, 12-18-2007)

The City Council shall establish sewage connection fees by resolution.

(a) When the number of sewage units connected to a particular lateral permanently increases, the property owner shall pay an additional sewage connection fee based upon the number of ERUs added to the system.

On discovery by the City of an unauthorized sewer connection, the property owner shall pay a connection fee at the rate existing as of the date of the connection. Unless the property owner presents clear and convincing evidence as to the date of the unauthorized connection, it shall be presumed the connection was made as of the date of discovery.

(b) If the number of sewage units applicable to the temporary facilities is more than the number of sewage units applicable to the permanent facilities, no additional sewage connection fees shall be assessed and connection charges applicable to such excess sewage fees shall be refunded to the property owner at the rate existent as of the date of connection to the temporary facilities.

(c) When the right to service is transferred from temporary to permanent facilities and the number of sewage units applicable to the temporary facilities is less than the number of sewage units to be provided to the permanent facility, the property owner shall pay an additional sewage connection fee(s) based upon the number of additional sewage units at the rate existent as of the date of the transfer.

(d) Connection fees may be changed at any time in accordance with these regulations and state law. An applicant shall pay the connection fees existent when service commences regardless of when the connection fees are deposited or paid. "Service commences" for a new or additional ERU when the applicant's property can be connected to the trunk or collector sewer and monthly sewage service charges are paid.

A property owner who has the right to receive sanitation service for temporary facilities may transfer that right to permanent facilities located on another parcel of land, if the following conditions are met:

(a) The property owner pays applicable fees and charges for service at the original location.

(b) The property owner pays expenses incurred by the City in providing service to the new site including but not limited to additional materials, inspection or coring.

(c) The property owner demonstrates service to the original location has been permanently discontinued, sealed and capped.

(d) Applicable rates, fees and charges are paid.

(a) An applicant shall pay the following miscellaneous fees:

(1) Where a collector sewer is constructed pursuant to a so-called "private contract" or pursuant to other ordinances and regulations, the applicant shall pay a fee to cover the cost of reviewing the plans and specifications for the sewer improvements.

(2) Sewer connection installation and inspection charges shall be paid whenever a connection to a collector or trunk sewer is required.

(3) Whenever industrial waste must be tested prior to discharge, the proposed discharger shall pay the City's testing costs.

(b) The anticipated amount of the miscellaneous fees described above shall be deposited prior to commencement of work by the City. Refund of any excess deposit shall be made upon completion of the work.

(a) An applicant not making a cash deposit for connection fees shall enter into a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement shall require the applicant to pay connection fees at a future date.

(b) The form of the deposit agreement shall be approved by the Council. The deposit agreement shall be recorded and constitute a lien against the property for which service is sought.

(c) Whenever a deposit is required to cover the cost of a service to be performed, the Director of Public Works shall establish the amount of deposit by estimating the cost of providing the materials, equipment or services. The deposit shall be tendered to the City before work is undertaken. The amount of deposit may be increased if the original estimate is inadequate. If the applicant fails to increase the amount of deposit when requested in writing, work on the project shall cease. At the conclusion of the project, the Director of Public Works shall refund amounts deposited in excess of costs incurred.

(d) If the applicant abandons the construction of the improvements, or the recording of a subdivision for which installation and connection charges were paid, installation and connection charges shall be refunded, with interest, to the applicant upon the applicant's written request. If the facilities necessary to serve the applicant's property have been installed or expenses incurred, the refund shall be reduced by the amount of such expenditure.

(Ord. No. 07-658, 12-18-2007)